I've tutored for over 8 years, mainly for the money- and it was tough back then when I started. Surviving on a RM 2200/month salary was impossible, and I had recently jumped on the opportunity to buy an apartment! I dabbled in a few things- worked at an uncle's company, freelanced etc. but nothing really worked out- so I tried signing up for a tutor portal and landed my first job within a few weeks! The job was exciting, and I was proud of it- I was tutoring my first A-Levels Physics student, on Thursday nights between 8pm to 10pm.

Before long, news spread, and I got 5 more students, my weekdays were occupied; and it was VERY tiring! A 45 hour week combined with an additional 10 hours of tutoring and 10 hours of getting stuck in KL jams wasn't easy. But I stuck with it- the job was very rewarding! I enjoyed every single class, and was pleased with the extra cash! How much do you guys get paid for tutoring?

I loved seeing my students do well, and for a change, I thoroughly enjoyed giving homework ( as a change to receiving homework!) Some students did them, and some didn’t- how do you guys handle this?

By giving tuition all over KL, I've managed to learn many parts of KL as well as I know the back of my own hand- a wonderful plus to this, I must say! I thoroughly enjoyed the green hills of Melawati and the beautifully landscaped Sierramas! Some places were a complete nightmare to get to, because of traffic!

I’ll next share the sort of challenges that I faced as a tutor, but I would love to hear from all of you out there first, especially those of you who are considering a part time career as a home tutor!

I'd like to cover a 10 part series on the challenges encountered by a tuition teacher. Though who knows, by the time I get to part 8 or 9, it would then be a 11 or 12 part series!

Part 1 of 10: The Sleepy Student

We were all students at one point- and I know that some of you reading this post are students too! Students don't need much sleep do they? Well, at night, at least! Students suffer from jet lag on Friday Night, Saturday Morning, and Monday morning. Tutors, beware of these times- you should plan your classes around these no-go zones; unless your student has specifically requested for this hour! I've had students who've run down from their beds, to the kitchen table where we were supposed to meet for a class, without brushing their teeth. The smell of morning breath can certainly overpower any Ipoh Old Town White Coffee (extra kau!) that you bring along  . As a result, you'd be very inclined to not get the student to answer any questions that you would have otherwise quizzed them with.

On our part, tutors should always take into consideration that students are sleep-deprived creatures ! But, as their teachers, how do we help them focus on the topics at hand? Here's what I do:

1) Bring sweeties ! One or two mentos packs doesn't cost much, and your students need that glucose injected into their sleep-laden neurons to wake them up!
2) Text them the night before, telling them that they're having a class, but don't be patronising! Something like "Hi Linda, we'll cover Faraday's Law in class tomorrow at 8.30am, I'll see you then!" may just distract your students long enough from their online games or text group to realise that it is 2 a.m. Have you got an app that can schedule texts? That's even better!
3) Bring coffee. Not for them, but for you. They can just ride on the smell of coffee in the morning to wake them up!
4) Keep the lesson light at the start- I always start with a one-directional information flow, from me to the student, to help the student get into the mood. 15 minutes later, I'm tossing light questions at my students, and an hour later, we're doing heavy work!
5) Get the lights on- Your student may complain that its too bright, but a little natural light in the mornings always helps brighten your day!

What are some of the things that you do to help keep your students awake in the morning?   What are some of the things that you do to keep yourself awake in the mornings, for an early start?

Next: Part 2 of 10: Alamak, my stomach is growlinggg lah! 

@TimeLess- That's a particularly awful experience that you've had- but I do suppose that it isn't an uncommon one in Malaysia. These tuition centres that you've just described seem to care about 2 things: fitting as many students as they can in one class, and charging as much as they can for those classes. This really is a sad situation- as these students signed up for private tuition to escape the poor education experience that they were faced with in some of their conventional schools.

How long did you last in that centre? Are they still in business?

For all of you out there, who run a tuition centre, how do you cope with the pressures of running a tuition centre?

Was a part time tutor at a local tuition center, Was fun for the first few weeks but things started to change once i found out that most of the old 'experienced' tutors including the principal or owner of the tuition center are bunch of money suckers. The only thing they care about is money and not their students.

They read out what is in the textbook or reference book then ask the students to do exercise and pass up on the spot, while the students are trying out the questions, they just sit there staring at their phone instead of walking around guiding those who are facing difficulties in solving the questions. worst of all, there are little to no explanation, answers are given without any explanation.

Most of my students who attended their class say that they learn nothing at all. the principal even ask me to speed up and avoid unnecessary explanation as they need to catch up with the syllabus. those old tutors tried to drive me out of the tuition center when they found out that i was teaching those students the subjects that was assigned to them and not me( i did that bcuz the students ask me to teach them as they have learned nth from those tutors). I was called a inexperience, useless, busybody teacher in front of my students by those tutors.

TL;DR

Overall experience is somewhere between good and bad, pay was fine and i get to see for myself how rotten educational institutions & so called tutors/teachers works.

+1 for an awesome example! Teach for Malaysia exemplifies what teaching should be all about- fun, motivated and effective!

was a part time tutor for pre-school kids, very happy dealing with all the children, and feel extremely great to see their improvements and results

Lately i have take up tuition jobs for std6, which parents put high hope on you to teach their kids the technique on scoring the UPSR. It's not easy at the moment, as i am about 10 years away from std6, don't really know what are the changes on syllabus etc. Can someone pls share your experience?

Yes! that's the key!
I already bought past years paper and start looking at the questions and format,
but do not have marking scheme,as well as the full year syllabus

ahh any idea where can i get those materials?

since UPSR is only 3 months away from now, which area should i focus on?
past year papers? technique to score?

Was interested in becoming tutor too... but i have not study for long time... not sure what subject I can teach and most important I lose my work life balance..

yes already bought past year papers from pupular   
now in the midst of preparing my first class. thinking how to make it fun and interactive instead of just do do do. 

Video's are awesome- they take learning to the next level by helping students visualise concepts better! Do you use many other props in your lessons?